Canning machine



M. E. WALKER CANNII'NG MACHINE Oct. 18, 1932.

Filed Dec a1, 1950 4 Sheets- Sheet 1 Inventor 17/225022? QZZer A tfomeyOct. 18, 1932. WALKER 1,883,136

CANNING MACHINE Filed Dec. 51, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Oct. 18, 1932. M,E, W R 1,883.136

CANNING MACHINE Filed Dec. 51, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet I:

Inventor A llomey Oct. 18, E, WALKER 1,883,136

CANNING MACHINE Filed Dec. 31. 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 In uentor Million/7l l a/l/far By yzwaofizm A llorncy Patented Oct. 18, 1932 UNETED STATESPATENT OFFICE oAnNInG MACHINE Application filed December 31, 1930.Serial No. 505,938.

This invention relates broadly to certain new and useful improvements incanning machines, and the primary object of the invention is to providea machine of this type,

especially adapted for canning prepared spaghetti.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a machine whichwill permit of filling cans with prepared spaghetti in a practical andefficient manner without unnecessary loss of time and with a minimum oflabor. 1

A still further object of the invention is to provide a machine forfilling cans with prepared spaghetti that consists of but relatively fewparts, requires but little skill to operate, will insure the properproportionment of the spaghetti to each can, and further, a machine ofthis character which will be inexpensive in maintenance.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparentduring a study of the following description, taken in connection withthe accompanying drawings .25 wherein:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the machine. Figure 2 is a sideelevational view thereof, the endless conveyor being shown in section.Figure 3 is a vertical sectional elevational view taken substantially onthe line 33 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a top plan view of the movable measuring and filling block.

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on the line 55of Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a side elevational view of the endless conveyor.

Figure 7 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially on line 7-7of Figure 1.

Figure 8 is a vertical sectional elevational view taken substantially onthe line 88 of Figure 9.

Figure 9 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on the line9-9 of Figure 2.

Figure 10 is a somewhat diagrammatic and elevational View of the meansfor imparting transmittent movement to the endless conveyor. V

Figure 11 is a detail sectional view taken substantially on the line1111 of Figure 10.

with an eccentric groove comprehended by the present invention.

Figure 14: is a sectional elevational view of a ratchet showing theadjustment means therefor.

Figure 15 is a detail sectional elevational View taken substantially onthe line 1515 of Figure 2. V

lVith reference more in detail to the drawings it will be seen that 1designates a suitable leg supported table that has rising from adjacentthe forward end thereof a frame structure that includes supports 2 and3, which vertical supports 2 and 3 support on their upper ends aninclined tray 4% for receiving spaghetti or the like commodity to becanned.

Adjacent one end thereof, the tray 4 is contracted and merges into anintegral substantially horizontally disposed discharge trough 5 that hasa feed spout 6 leading downwardly therefrom.

A guide platform 7 is supported on a transverse member 8 connectingopposed vertical frame members 2, and a cross member 9 connecting theupper ends of relatively short vertical frame members 10.

Slidably arranged on platform 7 is what may be termed a combined feedand measuring box designated generally by the reference character B. Thecombined feed and measuring box B includes a lower section 11 that ishollowed out as at 12 to reduce the weight of the section. Adjacent oneend thereof the section 11 is provided with a vertical hole or opening13. The combined measuring and feed box B also includes an upperinverted U-shaped section 14 which has the ends 15 thereof serrated orotherwise formed to provide teeth for engagement with complemental teethprovided on the ends of the section 11 whereby the sections 11 and 14may be adjusted relative to one another and maintained in said adjustedposition through the medium of locking screws 16 that are passed throughthe ends 15 and engage the corresponding ends of the section 11.

Thus section 14 may be raised or lowered and maintained in a raised-orlowered'position relative to section 11. Section 14is provided with anopening adapted to register with the opening 13 of section 11, anddepending from the section 14 about its opening is a cylindricalextension 17 that has its lower end slidably received in the openingi13.

The spout 6 leading from the opening in the trough 5 includes twotelescoping sections one'of which is fixed, and the other of which 6 islongitudinally movable as may be required according to the particularadjust ment of sections 11 and 14.

From the foregoing it will be apparent, that when thetubular extension17 of'section 14 is in alinement with spout 6, the spaghetti or likecommodity may be forced through the spout into the tubular extension 17and opening 13. .The amount of the commodity that is received intheextension 17 and opening'13 will be-such-as will be neces sary forfilling a can of a particular size.

The aforementioned combined feed and measuring box is slidable on theplatform 7 between the sides 18 of the platform. Said sides 18 areprovided with internal longitudinal grooves or channels 19'for receivingthe ribs 20 that project laterally from the section 11 thusproviding-suitableguide means for the box B during sliding movement ofthe latter.

At one endthereof, platform 7 projects-beyond the'corresponding end oftable 1, and at said one end is provided with a vertical discharge spout21.

When the box B is thus moved forwardly from its position shown in Figure3S0 as to register opening 13 with spout 21, the spaghetti or othercommodity will by gravity pass from the extension 17 and opening 13through thespout21 into a can CL. Ofcourse, when the" box B has been somoved insaid forward direction, it will be apparentthat the uppersection 14 of the box will act as a closure for the spout thuspreventing passage of the spaghetti or the commodity through the spoutuntil tubular extension 17 is again brought into registry with the spoutupon return movement of box B.

The mechanism for reciprocating box B includes a gear casing 22 that hassuitably journaled in the lower end thereof a shaft 23 driven from asuitable electric motor M through the medimn of suitable belt and pulleydrive means 23.

A shaft 24 has one end thereof j ournalled in the gear casing 22adjacent the upper end of the gear casing, and movement of shaft 22 istransmitted to shaft 24 through the medium of suitable transmissiongearing designated generally by the reference character 25 arrangedwithin the gear casing. (See Figures 8 and 9.) Shaft 24 has its otherend suitably journalled in a bearing bracket 26 rising from the table 1adjacent one longitudinal edge of the table.

Splined to shaft 24 for rotation therewith is a camv disk 27. Disk 27 onone face thereof is provided with an eccentric groove 28 within whichoperates a roller 29 suitably journalled on one end on a pitman rod 30.Pitman rod 30 at its other end is pivoted between a pair of spacedparallel ears provided on one end of section 14 of box B. Said end ofpitman 30 is pivoted between said ears as at 31.

A rock shaft 32 is journalled between a pair of bearings 33 mounted ontable 1. Rock shaft 32 is provided with a rocker arm 34 and the free endof the rocker arm is pivotally connected with that end of pitman rod 30which carries roller 29.

A single bolt 35 may be used for pivotally connecting the said end ofpitman 30 to rocker arm 34 and for supporting roller 29.

Thus it will be seen, that when the circuit to the electric motor M isclosed, movement will be transmitted from shaft 22 to shaft 24 throughthe transmission gearing above referred to, thus rotating cam disk 27imparting oscillatory movement to pit man 30 for effecting a sliding orreciprocatory movement of the combined feed and measuring box B. Ofcourse, movement of boX B will be so timed as to permit the same toremain in its retracted position, or in that position shown in Figures 2and 3, for a suf'- ficient period of time as may be required for fillingthe box with the necessary quantity of spaghetti. When the box has beenmoved forwardly through the mechanism just described, so as to positionthe opening 13 over the spout 21, cam disk 27 will have rotated asufficient fraction of its revolution as to cause roller 29 to beworking in that portion of groove 28 designated generally by thereference character 28. The walls of the groove at that portion 28 ofthe groove are suitably machined as to provide alternating recesses andprojections as will cause a jerking motion being imparted to pitman 30,consequently shaking or vibrating box B for agitating and insuring athorough discharge of the commodity through the spout 21 into a can Cdisposed beneath the spout for re ceiving the spaghetti or commodity.

For feeding cans successively and intermittently to the spout 21 thereis provided an endless conveyor that extends transversely with respectto the table 1 at the forward end of the table and which is movablebeneath the extended end of platform 7 The conveyor comprises a suitableframe structure designated generally by the reference character F and inthe end thereof are journalled sprockets 36 over which sprockets aretrained the endless chains 37 of the endless conveyor designatedgenerally by the reference character 38. Of course, any desired type ofendless conveyor may be used, and the conveyor has the runs thereofequipped with spaced apart lugs 39 for en gaging the cans C for movingthe cans successively into alinement with the discharge spout 21.

The cans are maintained in alinement on the conveyor between a pair ofspaced parallel guide bars 40 that extend longitudinally of the conveyorand are supported above the upper run of the conveyor through the mediumof suitable brackets 41 engaged with the guides 40 and adjustablyengaged with the sides of the frame F as at 42. Thus the guides 42 maybe maintained in spaced parallelism for accommodating therebetween thecans O, the guides 40 being spaced any desired distance apart as may beneeded for accommodating the particular sized can on the conveyor.

To operate the conveyor intermittently, and synchronously with the feedbox B there is provided, a horizontally disposed shaft 43 journalled inbrackets 44 mounted on one side edge of table 1.

Shafts 24 and 43 are operatively connected together through the mediumof a vertical shaft 46 journalled in suitable bearings also on said oneside of table 1. Shafts 46 and 24 are operatively connected through themedium of suitable gearing 45, and shaft 46 and shaft 43 are operativelyconnected together through the medium of suitable gearing 47.

That end of shaft 43, adjacent the conveyor, has suitably splinedthereto a disk 48 provided with a radial slot 49 for receiving thereinone end of a pivot and eccentric pin 50. The eccentric pin 50 may bedisposed at any predetermined point of adj ustment within slot 49through the medium of a collar integral with the pin, and a nut 51threadedly engaging one end of the pin and cooperating with the collarfor the purpose apparent. Pivotally engaged with the free end of theeccentric pin 50 is a link 52, which link 52 adjacent its free end ispivotally connected to the lower end of an arm 53. Arm 53 intermediateits ends is rockably mounted on one end of shaft 54 to which is keyedone of the sprockets 36. Keyed to the shaft 54 adjacent its outer end,is a disk 55 which has mounted thereon a ratchet wheel 56. Ratchet wheel56 may be adjusted relative to thedisk 55 through the medium of suitablebolt and slot means 57. Manifestly, adjustment of ratchet wheel 56relative to disk 55 will be necessary according to the capacity of thecan to be carried by the end less conveyor.

To the free end of arm 53 is pivotally mounted a dog 58 that is normallyengaged with the teeth of the ratchet wheel 56 through suitable springmeans 59.

From the foregoing then it will be seen that as shaft 24 rotates foractuating the box B in a manner before explained in detail, movement ofshaft'24 will be transmitted to shaft 43 thus rotating disk 48 resultingin an oscillatory movement being imparted to link 52 for rocking arm 53.As arm 53 is rocked, dog 49 will successively engage the teeth of theratchet wheel 56 thus imparting a step by step or intermittent movementof the conveyor so that as one can is filled, and moved from adjacentspout 21, a. second can will be moved into alinement with the spout intimed relation with the movement of box B, so that when box B is movedforwardly whereby its opening 13 is moved into registry with spout 21 anempty can on the conveyor will also be in registry with the spout forreceiving the contents of the box B.

Even though I have herein shown and described the preferred embodimentof the invention, it is to be understood that the same is susceptible ofvarious changes, modifications and improvements coming within the scopeof the appended claims and the spirit of the invention as hereindescribed.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is:

1. A filling machine including an inclined tray terminating in a troughhaving a longitudinally extensible discharge spout, a platform mountedbelow the tray, a member slidable on the platform adapted to receive thecommodity dispensed from said spout, said platform remote from theterminus of said spout being provided with a discharge opening, aconveyor movable beneath said platform and adapted to support thereceptacles thereon for successively alining the receptacles with saiddischarge opening, and means for actuating said slidable member andconveyor in timed relation with respect to one another, said lastmentioned means including means for imparting re-ci-procatory movementto said slidable member, and intermittent movement to said conveyor.

2. A filling machine including an inclined tray terminating in a troughhaving a longitudinally extensible discharge spout, a platform mountedbelow the tray, a vertically adjustable member slidable on the platformadapted to receive the commodity dispensed from said spout, saidplatform remote from the terminus of said spout being provided with adischarge opening, a conveyor mov- CTI opening, means for actuating saidslidable .member and conveyor in timed relation with respect to oneanother, said last mentioned means including means for impartingrecipprocatory movement to said slidable member, and intermittentmovement to said conveyor, together with means for imparting a vibratorymovementto said slidable member when the latter is at the limit of itssliding movement in one direction. I

3. A filling machine including in combination a tray adapted to receivea commodity, an endless conveyor adapted to support thereon a pluralityof receptacles in predetermined spaced relation, a slidably mountedmember of variable capacity adapted to re ceive a predetermined portionof the commodity from the tray at predetermined intervals forsuccessively filling the receptacles on said conveyor, mechanism foractuating said member and said conveyor, said mechanism including meansfor imparting intermittent movementto the conveyor and reciprocatorymovement to said member and in timed relation whereby when said memberis at the end or" its movement in one direction, a can on said conveyorwill be in its predetermined position for receiving the commodity fromsaid member, said mechanism further including means for imparting avibratory movement to said member when the latter is at the end of itsmovement in said one direction for insuring a discharge of the commodityfrom said member into the receptacle.

4. A filling machine comprising a tray having a vertical dischargespout, a member mounted for reciprocatory movement be neat-h said trayand provided with a vertical bore adapted to aline with said dischargespout for receiving a portion of the commodity on said tray, a conveyorremote from the tray and adapted to support thereon a plurality of cansarranged in predetermined spaced relation, means for actuating saidmember and said conveyor in timed relation with one another forsuccessively filling the cans on the conveyor from said member, meansfor varying the capacity oi said memher, and said discharge spout beinglongitudinally extensible to compensate for the varied capacity of saidmember.

5. A filling machine including in combination an endless conveyoradapted to support thereon a plurality of cans in predetermined spacedrelation, a member movable transversely to the conveyor and adapted tocontain a commodity of an amountequal to the amount of the capacity ofone can, means for actuating said member and said conveyor forreciprocating said member and imparting step by step movement to saidconveyor in ss e.

timed relation whereby when said member is at the 'limitof its movementin one direction,

above said conveyor and movable transverse-' ly relative thereto, meansfor reciprocating said member and including means for im parting aseriesof relatively short strokes to said member When the dischargeopening of the latter is disposed in substantial vertical alinementWith's'aid conveyor.

v 7. A can filling machine including in combination a travelling canholder, a tray above and laterally disposed with respect to the holder,and means movable between said tray and said holder adapted to delivermaterial to the cans on said holder and includinga reciprocating memberand means for reciprocating the same and intermittently vibrating saidmember.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

' MILTON E. l/VALKER.

